Nairobi: The Catholic Church has warned of the imminent closure of all their hospitals over the huge debt owned by the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
According to Kenya News Agency, Nairobi Archbishop Philip Anyolo stated that the ballooning debt has affected operations at their over 1,600 faith-based hospitals, and failure for urgent government intervention might bring their services to a halt. Speaking while opening a mother and child special unit at Mary Help the Sick Catholic Hospital in Thika town, Anyolo noted that most hospitals can no longer operate normally and that the Church has been unable to undertake other programmes due to the debts.
He emphasized the role the Catholic Church has played in complementing the health sector, indicating that closure of their hospitals will affect many patients across the country. 'The role of the Catholic Church in the provision of healthcare in the country cannot be downplayed. A shutdown of our hospitals will be detrimental to our patients, and thus we ask the government to intervene and enable us to operate optimally,' said Anyolo.
Anyolo also called on the government to listen to the concerns of Kenyans and improve the operations of the Social Health Authority. He pointed out that many patients remain in hospitals due to the failure of SHA to release funds, preventing them from being discharged to continue contributing to the country's development.
'Many Kenyans are suffering because of SHA. This has been overemphasized. To remove this agony from Kenyans, there is a need for dialogue by all stakeholders,' Anyolo stated.
The Archbishop also commended the Mary Help the Sick Mission Hospital for opening the new maternal unit, describing it as a significant step in enhancing maternal care in the region. His sentiments were echoed by the Hospital's CEO, Bhagya Seeli, who mentioned that the new facility will ensure that more mothers and babies receive quality care without overcrowding the hospital.
According to the CEO, the newly opened Mother-Child Centre is designed to separate expectant mothers and newborns from other patients, ensuring they are shielded from infections and other health risks. She added that the new facility will reduce strain on the main hospital, which currently handles over 170 deliveries per month.